The Opposite Of Design Fails: 50 Times Designers Nailed It And Got Praised Online (New Pics)
Interview With ExpertThe world is full of all kinds of designers, from the inspired and creative to the lazy and derivative. What sets truly great designs apart from all the rest of the ‘competition’ is a focus on empathy while balancing function and form.
When a creative professional truly cares about the person who ends up using their product, it shows. The members of the r/GoodDesign online community showcase some of the finest examples of user-friendly design, and we’ve collected some of their freshest posts to share with you. Scroll down for some inspiration!
Bored Panda reached out to world-famous pie artist and published author Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin, @thepieous, for her thoughts on truly great product, tool, and packaging designs. She was kind enough to share some great insights with us that should help anyone who bakes or cooks. Check out our interview with her below!
This post may include affiliate links.
Design For Roommates Or Siblings
But limiting. You’d have to completely remodel the room to change it. Maybe for something like shared dorm rooms, or camp cabins?
Load More Replies...I really could have used that my first semester in college. My first roommate complained about everything I did, including laying on my bed reading a book for fun.
Mine brought men friends home in the wee hours. But don't worry, she assured me that she didn't mind if I stayed! Eeek!
Load More Replies...I wish my parents had thought of this! All my sister and I had were a couple of bookcases and a panel with a bulletin board for us to hang stuff on lol
very cool looking… but the beds on top of each other? For siblings, yes, would work. But for college dorm room or roomates… no! If you’re on the bottom bunk and your roommate brings over their partner over at night. Yeah, I don’t think so. Splitting The room down the middle with a curtain w/a bed on each side of the curtain would be better.
According to pie artist Jessica, your creativity is a powerful asset. You can get a lot done even if you don't have a lot of tools and gadgets at your disposal. "When I started my career as a pie artist, the only baking tools I had at my disposal were my own two hands and a toothpick… And I am a firm believer that creativity in the kitchen is not gadget-dependant — you can make wonderful things, and have a blast doing it, with a very limited tool kit! Indeed, sometimes not having access to the right tools for the job is precisely what spurs on those wonderful discoveries, new techniques, and new baking formats," she told Bored Panda in an email.
"All that said, as I grew in my practice and started to become more efficient as a kitchen denizen, there were a few tools and gadgets that became indispensable to me. Not because they helped me develop my creativity necessarily, but because they cut down on time, frustration, and mistakes."
Wildlife Overpass, Trans-Canada Highway, Banff National Park, Canada. The 38 Passes And Fencing Have Reduced Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions By More Than 80%
It also happens to be very cool when you happen to see the wildlife actually using them. I saw two wolves up there once!
If I'm not mistaken, this is of Dutch origin. They've had these types of crossings there for decades.
Load More Replies...Thankfully The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is currently being built in Los Angeles! Huge win for native wildlife! 🥰
Do you know which freeway its being built over? I know I know, ill should Google it myself! Edit: its being built across the 101 freeway in Agoura Hills. i’ll have to drive up from the OC to check it out when it’s finished! This is great news for all the mountain lions that are currently being tracked & all the other wildlife
Load More Replies...Only 38? The Netherlands at least twice the number in overpasses. Then there are the smaller tunnels under the road for smaller animals. They run in the hundreds. If you consider the areas of nature that is connected by them in total cover an acreage of the size of the New York city Metropolitan area, the amount is impressive
Another factor that would reduce collisions is vehicle operators driving with due care and attention at reduced speeds...
Quite a lot of those collisions happen at night, that no matter how many precautions you take, you can't see the animal until they jump directly in front of your vehicle.
Load More Replies...We have one of these in S. AZ for desert wildlife. When it was first built, we thought it was a crazy idea (like wildlife are going to follow signs and cross at a specific spot), but it actually works!
This Furniture Hardware Is Sorted By Step Rather Than By Type
It's all about cost. Ikea wouldn't do it because it makes the product more expensive for the customers. Other, already more upmarket companies won't do it because it will lower their profit margins
Load More Replies...When I worked with the developmentally disabled, their day program had a group assigned to collecting the screws and everything for furniture and such. They each had a paper with the silhouette of the screws and other bits printed out in exact size, and the exact quantity. The client would fill the paper with the same shape and sized pieces, rather like a toddler's jigsaw. Most of them, simply from the sheer repetition, could fill their paper out fairly quickly. When all the shapes on the paper were covered, they bagged up the pieces, and started over again. Most of them were very proud that they worked.
We bought a modular unit from a company in Japan recently, and all of the tools, pieces, & instructions were laid out just like this. It was amazing! Took us less than 15 minutes to put the whole thing together, including the shooing cats from the middle of things time.
What is this shooing cats thing? We BELONG in the middle! How could you possibly get things done without our expert supurrvision? You horrible soft can-opener, you! You may not have any more cookies!
Load More Replies...Step 3 probably doesn't require the use of additional parts.
Load More Replies...Jessica shared her top 3 kitchen tools and gadgets with us:
- "A really excellent, and properly sharpened knife. Volumes have been written on the subject for anyone looking to go down the 'good knife' rabbit hole online, but suffice it to say, no single tool will have a greater impact on your speed, precision, safety, and—if you’re a food artist like me the level of fine detail you can achieve in your work!
- A decent food processor. If you make a lot of dough or batter and you really care about consistency between batches, a food processor is an indispensable tool. It allows you to precisely measure how much you are blending certain ingredients, and with certain fussy culinary chemical reactions, that is a critical variable to know. It also helps you keep your ingredients cold, and cuts down the time it takes to combine them, which is very handy with recipes like pie dough where the clock is ticking on the fat melting and making your dough tough.
- An oven thermometer. Knowing what temperature your oven actually is, and if it has 'hot spots' (if the temperature is higher in some areas of the oven than in other parts) may just be the final piece of the puzzle for anyone wondering why their bakes always turn out different from the recipe. It is rare for ovens, especially older ones, to heat precisely to the temperature on the dial in every part of the oven. If you find your dishes turn out over or underdone on occasion and you don’t know why, invest in a cheap oven thermometer! Then you can adjust the temperature up or down, or rotate your baking sheets during the bake to ensure the proper doneness."
The Wine Box Is Designed To Be Reused As A Birdhouse:)
Friend of mine was enrolled in an online subscription that sent her three bottles of wine each month. The bottles were shipped in a lightweight wooden 'crate' with two slats that divided it up into space for three bottles. She turned two of these crates sideways, added labels, and they became a very nice, sort of rustic-looking spice rack. Genius, and not unattractive.
This would be a great idea if it wasn't cheaper and more environmentally friendly to use cardboard or just ship a box of 12 to the liquor store. I'd imagine that the vast majority of them don't get used as a bird house.
How do the baby birds get out to learn to fly? It looks like the hole is too high above the bottom of the nest. Also, Audubon Society recommends no perch in front of the hole. Makes it easier for predator birds to stand outside and stick their heads in. TLDR: IMO this is not a "nailed it". It is a design fail and a marketing gimmick.
Also, the whole thing, including the hole, needs to be sized for the bird you're hoping will use it.
Load More Replies...Traffic Signals With LED Lights On The Pole Itself
Yes. The basic idea is good but when there are two regular traffic lights I can't see any reason to light all 30' of the pole. Besides the unnecessary light, it requires a bunch of unnecessary energy, too.
Load More Replies...I think this is a great idea. Many times, I have been behind a large truck and cannot see the traffic light head, this would be great. Where are these in use at?
We've all been behind a truck that blocks the view of the light but I don't see anything here that's going to fix that problem.
Load More Replies...Tested in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata since 2014. The experiment showed no improvement in accident reduction, and was deemed outright dangerous with in fog, rain and night condition. The excess of lighting make water droplets glow blinding the driver and making difficult to understand which lane and street has the right of way. Further tests with a limited implementation in Turkey and Ukraine basically confirmed this.
A frequent complaint that is not immediately evident is how this makes signal interpretation much harder for colorblind people who rely on the position of the light instead of color.
Load More Replies...My Son’s Onesie Has A Different Color Button In The Middle So It’s Easier To Line Them Up Properly
This is more of a win than you realize if you've never dressed a little one in a snap up onesie.
In the middle of the night after a feed with only a night light to see... Would make it glow in the dark
Load More Replies...Are these called buttons? In U.K. they're press studs, but maybe snaps in the U.S.
Snapping up a onesie is like trying to figure out a Rubik's cube .. this is a genius idea
This needs to be a standard feature for ALL clothing manufacturers!
It's been at least 20 years but I can still remember the frustration of these bloody poppers. Now going through it with grandkids 😄
Bored Panda was interested to hear the pie artist's thoughts on what kinds of baking tools and food packaging she'd wish were designed better. She was happy to share her thoughts on this.
"I was in a foreign city baking for a client and had to pick up ingredients that were not my usual brand for the gig. The sugar I bought came in a cardboard milk carton-type of package with a spout for pouring. I had never seen anything like that before and after easily pouring out precisely the amount of sugar I needed directly from the carton without spilling a grain, and then simply sealing it up with no bag clip or elastics or fumbling mess needed, I was gob-smacked," she opened up to us.
"Why isn’t every edible powder ingredient sold in a milk carton? It’s wonderful! And such a simple concept to make pouring and sealing your ingredients simple. Now I can’t open a bag of flour or a jar of baking soda without wistfully thinking about that strange and wonderful 'sugar in a milk carton' packaging."
These Reversible Benches Allow You To Decide Which Direction You Prefer To Face While You Sit On Them
Like the seats in Japanese trains - so everyone is facing the right way!
Or groups of people can all sit together facing each other.
Load More Replies...Noooo! It has to faces the other way! Otherwise the boats can sneak up on you and eat you!
Not enough people know about this. My cousin was eaten by a boat :(
Load More Replies...This design is ancient. As a kid I saw this during a tour in an old castle somewhere in The Netherlands. They had a bench with this design near a fireplace so you could decide which side of your body you would like to warm.
Really cool to be able to choose between having the sun in your face or behind you.
I didn't even think of that, I was just thinking it's whether you'd rather look at people or at the sea
Load More Replies...Up until the mid 1930s American passenger trains had what were called walkover seats. These were seats fixed to the floor and entire back of the s e a t would flip from one side to the other so that the passenger could Face Forward in the direction the train was moving.
Handy if you want to have your back to the wind but still want a view, especially if the wind changes from east to west, or whatever.
The Spoons In This Japanese Restaurant Have A Little Nudge On Their End So They Don’t Fall Into The Bowl
seems SO obvious. All forks and spoons and knives should be made in this way. Can't tell you how many times they have had to be fished out of soup or some such.
Nope. A notch is cut into something. This is a protrusion / hook
Load More Replies...I have wooden spoons from Russia that have this! Great for borsht & lapsha!!
Great Customer Experience Design
Employees will spontaneously combust
Load More Replies...Meanwhile, Jessica said she often wishes that it were easier to open cans of pumpkin filling and jars of olives. "Can openers are a pain in the butt, and glass jars with metal lids are often incredibly difficult to get open. Perhaps one day some genius will come up with an idea for a form of packaging that is air-tight and hygienic, robust and compact for shipping, environmentally friendly and economical, but that pops right open with a simple touch/twist/command. The person who can develop the patent for such a package will be very rich indeed. And people with motor function challenges will no doubt label them a hero!"
If you're interested in learning about baking, you can take a peek at Jessica's book 'Pies Are Awesome' and her online baking courses at 'PieSavvy.' In the meantime, check out her latest pie art posts on Instagram!
My 3 Tacos Came In A Container That Was Made To Hold 3 Tacos Upright 🌮
Yeah, we have a local franchise for a chain called 'Taco Zocalo' that recently opened near us. They do it this way, and the food is good.
More importantly, that's enough food (esp with the guac) to fill me up. I eat only once daily so I always get nervous when eating out. This would def do it! (Troof - would add some fruit and nuts at the end, but that's it.)
May I ask why you only eat once a day? That's interesting.
Load More Replies...And it looks like it's recycled paper to boot, so environmental friendliness win, too!
This Pill Can Be Split Into 5mg Doses Or 7.5mg Doses Depending On Which Side You Break It
Looks like Buspar (anti- anxiety med)...I take Buspar & the ability to break the pill in sections has been a life saver
when i 1st started taking this, the nurse and later the pharmacist were so confused by the instructions to break it into 3rds until they saw the pills
Load More Replies...The grooves should be deeper for easier separation. Many like this don't break evenly.
Somewhat related PSA: Sometimes you can get a prescription for twice the dosage you need and just cut standard pills in half. The co-pay, and often the actual cost, is the same regardless of dosage so a cooperative doctor may be able to cut your costs in half
Except in some meds cutting through the outer protective layer (aka creating raw edge) changes the release schedule of the d**g. Always check with your doctor before you start messing with pills that don't have a clear indicator that they can be halved!!
Load More Replies...Yet, my pills rarely split on the "cut" marks regardless of how carefully I place them in the pill cutter-mechanism-thingy. . .!
Holy c**p, I hope those aren't xanny bars. That's an insane amount of medication if it is.
My first thought was xanny bar. But it's a different anxiety med apparently.
Load More Replies...This Cat Tree Comes With Instructions For Building A Cat House Out Of The Box It Came In
Of course, you don't buy the cat tree for the cat tree but for the box 😺 the tree is an unnecessary bonus 😼
Load More Replies...Last year I bought cat litter that came in a box that could bei transformed into a cat house. Our cats loved it but lost interest after a few months. It became a quite nice Halloween decoration.
That's a better track record than I have. Doesn't matter if it's a free delivery box or a $200 multi-level cat tower, my cats seem to lose all interest after about three days.
Load More Replies...got something similar with our Modkat litterbox. The box that held the lid and other pieces (activated charcoal, holder, scoop, instructions...) had perforated holes and they included a hollow plastic ball to make a cat toy out of the box.
If you want to be a successful designer who creates quality products, then you really do need to put your customers first. You can’t get around the fact that you need to know your target audience extremely well.
What are their wants and needs? Their hopes and dreams? Their potential pain–points while using your competitors’ products?
When you start identifying what makes your customers tick, you can avoid some (though probably not all) potential design pitfalls.
You can conduct focus groups and show people various iterations of your product to see what they (dis)like and prefer. You can ask your colleagues, family, and friends for their input. And then sift through all the advice to see what’s actually good criticism and what’s just a matter of taste.
I Ordered Some Sample Colors For New Blinds, And They Sent Me Actual Tiny Little Blinds
Like the little tents on display at some stores.
Load More Replies...My wife has an antique dolls' house and these look to be the perfect size.
Load More Replies...A Simple Easy-Open Tab On This Computer Mouse Package Was A Welcome Surprise After A Long Day Of Moving Into A New Apartment
Because it increases the risk of theft. Clamshell packaging is designed to deter thieves by making the item harder to remove from the package so harder to conceal. This is a perfect door handle for quick removal and hiding of the item.
Load More Replies...And now you have to find a member of staff to unlock them from behind protective cases because of the increase in theft.
Load More Replies...I detest items that come sealed in tough plastic packaging, so that you need to cut them open with scissors.
When you have to fight to get into a package, all you really feel like doing is throwing it against the wall.
I just bought a new mouse today! I'm lucky I didn't amputate my thumb on that hard plastic.
My Puzzle Came With A Stand For The Box
I always use both parts of the box to sort the pieces in. :) I learned about two years ago that I am really good at recognising patterns (and fast) and that is why I never felt a need to look at the picture on the box. As a kid I thought people were weird for looking at the box. Turns out it's really just me being the weird one. 😄🤓
This! I still don't understand why people need to look at the bix.. :D
Load More Replies...I made a couple of these by running a block f wood through a table saw at two different angles. My wife ordered a set of 5 boxes in different colors to sort out the pieces.
But this makes it nicely angled and probably stays in place better. I like when they include an extra fold out picture with the puzzle
Load More Replies...My brain would have designed it with the "straight" edges to have the "innies" and "outies" of actual puzzle pieces. . . but this great "bonus" concept is long overdue. . .! Plus, it doesn't care if you use it on all of your other puzzle boxes. . .! :-)
I thought it said Pizza, at first. And I wondered, "Doesn't that make all the cheese and toppings slide to one side?" Too early to me!
No matter how great an expert someone is, it’s so easy to get lost in your work that you no longer see the forest for the trees. An outsider’s perspective can really help you see some aspects you need to improve on that you might have missed.
However, that requires a measure of humility. It’s one thing to be confident in your skills and vision. It’s another thing entirely to be so arrogant as to assume that you can make no mistakes.
When your customers get their hands on a product that is miles better than anything else on the market, they’re more likely to be loyal to your brand. If you make their lives better, why shouldn’t they return for more quality products and services?
You basically risk alienating your customer base if you lean too much into either function or form. On the one hand, if what you’re offering isn’t at all practical or ergonomic but just a monument to your artistic vision, many people likely won’t buy your product. If the needs of your customers aren’t met, you’ve failed as a designer (even if you might succeed as an artist).
Guitar Store
This is in Southampton, UK. If you look carefully, all the dials go up to 11.
I've been here, staff were knowledgeable and friendly and the shop was just cool in general
Load More Replies...And if Bender from Futurama had hit the building, it would be Bender's Fender fender bender!
This Tub Of Toothpaste Tells You Where Its Ingredients Come From And What They're Used For
I like this approach but wish they didn’t use palm oil, as it is associated with deforestation and human rights issues.
Depends on whether it's sustainable palm oil. A lot of countries experiencing deforestation are developing, and they need to make money. Eco-tourism can only go so far. Most developed countries have already deforested our own land, and it's a bit rich telling other countries not to do that to theirs, when it gets them jobs and income. Palm oil can be a solution - if done sustainably, it can be used on cleared forest to bring limited plant life back to the area and provide jobs and income. Demonizing all palm oil is unhelpful. A better approach would be to promote sustainable palm oil instead by looking for the RSPO logo.
Load More Replies...Food products have ingredients listed but I want to know where they were sourced.
Pretty sure the caption meant "tube", but your comment made me laugh 😄
Load More Replies...wow, total transparency, wouldn't that be nice on food products too! Genius!
"vegetable" and "plant fiber" could be SO MANY THINGS. For those of us with corn allergies, this information is pretty important. The ingredient list is not clear enough still.
So basically there are only two incredients for the tooth and rest are for the shape and flavor.
Also, avoid limonene. It is not good for the environment and can cause irritation on the skin. In rats it can cause cancer and even though it has not been proven to cause cancer in humans, I still avoid all products that I possibly can with limonene. At the very least in products for my kids.
Good Design Is Right Where You Need It
US supermarkets evilly move the location of products from time to time so shoppers are forced to go down all the aisles to find what they came in for :(
We've got that too :( there exist arseholes on every square centimeter of the earth.
Load More Replies...This is only in some supermarkets. I know there's one for the Malmö Mobilia Ica Kvantum, last time I checked.
I've seen this in the U.S., but it didn't catch on. Maybe if you go directly to what you want you don't buy anything else or any impulse items. Note: dairy and milk is always at the back, usually you walk through the fresh produce.
That wouldn't work in English supermarkets. They change the shop around on a whim at least every 6mths in most of them!
Aitport in Vienna has a electronic map on the trolleys, you can zoom in and out, search for places and it tells you whem to walk to your gate. Just anter flight number.
Would love that in some of the supermarkets I go. But what if they change the position of things?
This would only work if the market doesn't change its set-up. Ours will every once in a while decide to move stuff around in an effort to bring more items to your attention, i.e. buy more. Our local Super Walmart completely changed its setup, pet supplies are now in the back where the shoes were and shoes are split up with the different clothing,
On the other hand, aesthetics are also important. If your product is extremely functional but god-awful to look at, you’ll have a hard time when it comes to marketing, advertising, and getting consumers to even glance at the item on the store shelf.
Sure, iterating your designs to be more appealing can be costly. But if you save too much at the cost of appearances, the awesome functionality of your product might never get the chance to be used in the end.
This Airplane Seat Has A Step To Help Short People Reach The Overhead Locker
Now if they could just make the smaller planes interior large enough for a 6'4" person to walk down the aisle without bending over half way.
They already do that. They call them 'larger planes'.
Load More Replies...A sign of giving up on the courtesy of taller or younger passengers to help those having difficulty. I routinely lent a hand when I'd see anyone needing it.
I'm 6' tall. Not VERY tall but when getting on an airplane I seem to be the designated bag lifter!
Load More Replies...Imagine an 80 something lady trying to fit a foot on that - not actually wide enough to be safe.
I imagine she saw the door to the cockpit too, but didn't feel she had to use it just because it was there.
Load More Replies...This Rooftop For Bicycles So The Saddle Won't Get Wet
When I was a constant biker, I just carried a plastic bag and would tie it over the seat.
Rain can come at an angle anywhere if there is enough wind
Load More Replies...It's the chain and gears that you really want to keep dry
If you look at the photo, only one bike has the seat under the roof/hood. So others might agree with you.
Load More Replies...If it's not plastic, a little leather dressing and you don't have to worry, softer too.
Could be a literal translation for the Dutch word 'zadel'
Load More Replies...And by the picture, you can see only one person actually using it correctly! Hahaha!
Good idea but I was confused by the word 'rooftop', I thought the bikes were on the roof of a building!
Bathroom Stall Door With No Crack In Between
This door would be considered magic in the US...for whatever idiotic reason, our bathroom stall doors ALWAYS have a "pervert gap"
Load More Replies...Privacy- one of those suspiciously socialist European concepts what we don't hold with hyar in the States.
I really wish they would fix all of the stall doors so that there are no gaps., some of f them are pretty wide.
In the UK it's not uncommon to use a toilet that is a completely enclosed cubicle, and definitely no gaps. What is that all about?
Sure must smell in there, but if you're that paranoid, OK.
Load More Replies...The r/GoodDesign online group is fairly niche. It’s a tight-knit community, currently standing at 33k members strong. Their main goal is to bring people’s attention to examples of truly great design, no matter where it’s found.
“Be it web-based or not, if the design is good, then post it,” the moderator team running the subreddit urges everyone.
Everything and anything you end up posting on the group should, in some way, be related to high-quality designs. If you go off-topic too much, you might end up getting banned. Sometimes, even permanently. It makes sense: it’s a design-focused community, after all.
In the meantime, all the members are encouraged to put in a bit more effort and post more or less original content. If you end up reposting images that were shared within the last month, they’ll be removed. Furthermore, you shouldn’t repost pics that are in r/GoodDesigins’s Top 100 of All Time.
Wildlife Refuge Has Diagonal Windows In Their Bird Watching Blind As A Simple Solution To Allow People With Diverse Heights And Observation Needs To See Birds And Wildlife In The Nearby Bay
I ain't medium, I is just short. And proud. When I taught, the students said 'she small, but she walk tall'.
Load More Replies...Helps. But I'm kid-sized and probably would need a step stool anyway.
Good basic idea, but now nobody gets an opening that's the right height and 16 or 24" wide. And based on the top plate above the studs either the joists are too low or the right half is for people who are at least 7' tall.
They Put Rails Under The Benches In This Park So You Can Always Be In The Shadow
I see adults making train noises while having a lot of fun, I wouldn't be able to resist.
I would definitely sit astride it and make woowoo noises
Load More Replies...For those whose first language isn't English, the correct way to say the last bit is "so you can always be in the shade"... I always look for the shaded spots as I am sun-sensitive.
My first language (my only language really) is English and it bothered me that the title of this said "shadow" instead of shade.
Load More Replies...Unfortunately these days, it would probably be vandalized in my city. But nice idea!
Tripping hazard. Conveniencing the sitters while injuring everyone else.
My Empanada Says What Meat Is Inside
I haven't had one of those since Mom passed in 2009. She used to make them and the little ones.
Load More Replies...Very usual in Argentina. There's a chain called "solo empanadas" that already used this in 99'
My local empanada place has these stamps but only the initials. So ham and cheese is HC. Still a bit of a puzzle but very helpful
Originally, r/GoodDesign was created all the way back in 2012, which was an entirely different era on the internet.
One of the moderators helping keep the community functioning properly, u/KingDrude, previously opened up to Bored Panda about his experience. He told us that he’d been following the group for a while before applying as a mod.
Green And Red Lights To Indicate Which Stalls Are Open
There are public parking garages in my area that do the same thing. So you don't have to drive down a row looking for a spot if there aren't any green lights.
They have this in a hospItal parking garage in Cincinnati also. It makes parking so much faster and easier.
Dat heeft mijn ziekenhuis in de parkeergarage, zó makkelijk
Solar Park Bench With USB Charging Ports
Or replaced with an thingy that uploads malicious software to your phone?
Load More Replies...Unfortunately, in the US, it would be vandalized before the paint dried.
Sadly in my area the benches would be trashed as soon as they were installed.
This Track To Help People Bring Their Bikes Up Or Down Stairs
Not really, no. Europe is many different countries, and I've never seen this in many of them.
Load More Replies...BAD DESIGN!!!! These things are practically useless and potentially dangerous. I've seen older people fall down stairs trying to use them. During crowded commute times, leaning your bike into the crowd on a staircase is a waste of space. Yes! Pedals, handlebars and saddle bags hit the wall and kick back. I've been commuting on a bike for 30 years, I only made the mistake of using them a few times. What really angers me is that civil engineers think this is an upgrade, put them in every new stair case, and have stoped trying to design something better. Us cyclists are supposed to be grateful for a death trap that none of us asked for.
It does seem like the top of the bike would be too close to the wall and having to lean your bike to accommodate that poor design just seems inefficient.
Load More Replies...You can angle the bike towards you - that's what I used to do when I used to cycle in Heidelberg and used these things.
Load More Replies...The funny thing about this is they're always on the opposite side that I'm used to. I can manage walking my bike from the right side, but positively can NOT get on from that side. So whenever I have to switch sides for whatever reason, it's a very slow, deliberate dance with myself, the bike, and gravity. I've genuinely considered biking out to some unpopulated area and practicing getting off and on from the right side.
According to the mod, who has experience working with other communities, the workload isn’t all that huge because r/GoodDesign is a smaller group. He shared with us that he’s a big fan of “satisfying and innovative design.”
On top of enjoying the design-related content, he primarily loves working as a moderator in general, no matter the community.
Thought This Would Belong Here
I have a pair of tongs that have a prop like this. It's super handy.
Unless you wipe it off after every use it's still going to drip on the counter.
I have a spatula and a spoon like this! They came with a set of pots and pans my uncle gave me for Christmas one year! I love them!
On My Bedsheets
Actually ... if it has Top or Bottom that tells you it is the narrow side of the sheet.
Load More Replies...This Flannel Button Up Has An Orange Thread On The Bottom Button Hole So That You Don’t Misalign The Buttons
Someone above asked for the baby onesie design be applied to adult clothes...here ya go.
Do many people really need this? It happens to me occasionally, but I button my shirts starting at the top and working my way down, so that wouldn't help anyway.
Yeah buttoning top down is standard I feel? It would only take a few minutes to DIY this though!
Load More Replies...Someone just asked for the grownup version of the onesie button, and here it kinda is!
Which of these awesome designs impressed you the most? Which of the things featured in this list would you actually consider purchasing? Do you prioritize function, form, or a bit of both when picking products?
What, to you personally, are the hallmarks of truly great design, dear Pandas? Let us know what you think in the comments.
There Are Bins Along Cycle Paths In The Netherlands Which Allow You To Throw Out Rubbish Without Slowing Down
If you’re a good shot. How many people miss and don’t bother to stop to pick it up?
You haver never been to the Netherlands, it is so clean, and people are very good at using the bins everywhere.
Load More Replies...This started with road cleaners who made a pile of rubbish they collected along the cycle path and put it in one place. They put a sign next to it saying 'this is uninsured damage' (in Dutch: onverzekerde blikschade). Then they noticed that people started throwing more junk on that pile, instead of throwing it everywhere. A clever guy added the ability element by giving the cyclists a target. Now these things are everywhere where cycle paths are heavily used by youths.
It is actually a pun : "blikvanger" means "eyecatcher" and can also be interpreted as "can catcher"
How much rubbish could you have while riding? I don't produce a lot of trash on my rides. Or really any. I've yet to have need for this, but now I'm wondering if I'm just doing it wrong
Lots of young people drink from a can while riding their bike, so it's mostly that (when thrown while riding a bike, people also throw trash in it when walking past)
Load More Replies...I'm intrigued, how often are these emptied? Because there's only a small amount of rubbish in there, but if there was much more, it looks as if it would fall out/get blown away.
Finally
I love that book. I hate Netflix for murdering the adaptation
Load More Replies...I've never understood why it was assumed by anyone that men do not want or deserve privacy,
You know they were designed and installed by men. We just don't care. Out, spout, don't look left or right, washing hands optional, apparently.
Load More Replies...Most of us just don't care. But it gets a bit embarrassing when rolling it back up to put back in my underwear.
Load More Replies...I hung out in a coffee shop (Last Exit On Brooklyn) where the marble table tops were the urinal dividers from the old Federal Building. (I still cringe when I remember the twit who kept tapping the tabletop with his dominoes - the sound was worse than those twits who have to stir/tap their coffee mugs)
These Dog Poop Bags Lets You Know When There's Only Three Left On The Roll
In Switzerland there are free poop bags everywhere! Now that is an even better design!
In the US, those exist wherever they anticipate enough dog-walkers within major metro areas.
Load More Replies..."Yes sir, yes sir, three bags empty! One for the mastiff, one for the great dane, And one for the little pup who lives down the lane."
My local council in Moschato, Athens,Greece provides free brown bags for doggies' toilet related issues. Kallithea council too .
I remember having tissue boxes at work that would let you know when they were almost empty when the last few tissues were yellow instead of white. My laminate rolls tell me when there are only 15 inches left. That has saved me from ruining so many things!!!
What happens when there's three bags left? Time to call the black sheep?
Tells You That You Won’t Finish The Movie (Oc)
Just tell them you're not deplaning till the movie has finished.
Load More Replies...There should be a cable channel that only has the ends of movies I never finished.
Yeah, CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! Because there are usually boring bits I can fast-forward through. My last flight tried this: basically 20 mins difference between run time and ETA, plus the fact they shut off IFE 20 min before landing so at least 45 min needed to be shaved. Done!
This Clever Idea To Make The Material Reusable!
Unfortunately though, the clothing they sell are anything but durable and last but a season or two. But it's cheap and on trend, I guess...
I am a fan - and I have clothes from them that have lasted 10 years plus. I'm not in to fast fashion, being in my 70's, but treated well (and selected to avoid obvious faults) they are a good buy. (just don't bother with shoes)
Load More Replies...One of our major supermarket chains in Australia knew people were using their paper bags for wrapping paper and craft already, so last year they actually printed Christmas designs on them with lines to mark where to cut.
I love that companies have been making packaging with the intent of repurposing for over century now- all the way back to 1900 feed sacks in the USA and Canada. The companies realized people were repurposing the sacks for clothing and made them out of nicer fabric.
Load More Replies...Years ago I bought some furniture (the kind you assemble at home) and the pieces were wrapped in these big paper sheets. So I saved the sheets that weren't damaged and then I had paper to wrap presents in for a few years. On top of that, my kids could make nice drawings on the paper before we wrapped it around the presents. It was the best thing ever! My bf thought it was silly. But I loved it. The kids loved it. And everybody loved receiving gifts from us 😁
I've sometimes used newspaper paper. If you go for a page without coloured images, but pure text, and combine it with a nice ribbon and a "gimmick" like a leaf of holly, a candycane etc. you can get something that actually looks great.
Depending On The Colour Tape That’s What In The Box
"Frank, you are supposed to close the box with the same color tape as the box contains! AND the check box is the tape color INSIDE the box, not the color used to close the box."
Bugger! Just looked closer at the picture. Not boxes of tape. Boxes of food, tape color is type of food.
Load More Replies...A Beer Bucket With A Beer Opener On The Side
I have had a Corona bucket on top of my fridge for over 10 years, it has this feature and I've never noticed!
That feature is the bucket's crowning glory, because 'corona' means crown.
Load More Replies...Steady on! I think it might be an ice bucket for bottled/canned beer.
Load More Replies...That's awesome! But as long as you have a Bic lighter, you have a bottle opener
My Whey Has A Little Hook To Put The Scoop On
A handy feature as I am often left rooting around in the protein shake powder for the scoop...
Maybe you could tell the manufacturer. They'll change the design in time for the next generation!
Load More Replies...Just think of the places you could use this, instead of fishing around in the powder or liquid, getting it all over your fingers, then rinsing it off.
Family Size Cereal Comes In Two Half-Sized Bags
I recall seeing this with the old Nintendo cereal, one bag containing Mario Bros. shapes and the other containing Legend of Zelda shapes.
I don't think it's more plastic, and if it is, it is only by a very marginal amount. It appears though, to be the normal size bag that has been sliced in half, & sealed.
Load More Replies...That looks like cat litter, and again they're creating more plastic waste to solve a problem which is better remedied with the use of reusable container.
"Ever eat a pine tree?" Old commercial for Grape Nuts with a natural foods expert.
Load More Replies...Fiber One tastes very good if you mix it with flavored yogurt or juice. Add preserves, jelly, or jam if you have plain yogurt. When you're over 45 you'll be told to increase fiber in your diet. Fiber equals better poops !
I like it with fruit! And the two bags are great because you don't eat it in the same way you eat regular cereal. This helps the other half not go stale on you
Load More Replies...My New Wok Has Circles For Measuring Oil
I am not the best cook, but do people put oil in the middle of the pan? I just spread it around until I think I put enough
I usually pour it in one spot before moving the pan to spread it around. Never measure it though, you just know how much you need...
Load More Replies...A nonstick wok? Really? I guess someone would need oil advice too, then.
The first problem I see there is it is a non-stick pan. Traditional wok cooking is high heat. That's a bowl shaped frying pan. /snobby comments. LOL
Exactly. Woke has high sides so you can move the faster cooking items up the side while you still swirl the longer cooking items. High heat, fast. That is not a true wok. And Teflon???? Nope! Nope! Nope!
Load More Replies...Now This Is Great Marketing
fun fact: when you say "ChatGPT" out loud, you are saying "Cat, I farted" in french (Chat, ja'i pété).
Packaging Communication At It’s Simplest
Because it’s a package, and it’s safe that way. When you take it out, it’s right way round.
Load More Replies...This picture has probably been designed by someone who has never used a peeler.
Only works on cucumbers... Tried one on a zucchini once and lost a finger.
Load More Replies...Pop Up Store
don't worry - being cardboard, there'll be plenty of light once it's rained.
Load More Replies...I think it's hard to get a job there, but you're OK once you get a foot in the door!
Funny Bathroom Door
My Gas Bill Came With A Scratch And Sniff That Smells Like Natural Gas
Methylmercaptin That's the stuff they add to natural gas and propane to make it smelly. Otherwise they are mostly odorless.
I once read that gas alone has no smell, the company adds smell so people get alerted when it leaks, otherwise they wouldn't notice it
Yeah, they gave these things to use in grade school..........in the 1970s.
Natural gas is odorless and a hallucinogen - they add one of the most offensive smelling gases to protect the public (and stop the huffers). When I worked at NOAA, we received tank of the gas, it was tightly wrapped, sealed inside a container inside a container - when the outer box was opened the entire building was evacuated due to the smell
mercaptan... yeah, smells like rotten egg farts.
Load More Replies...The smell they use in natural gas is close enough to rotting meat that gas company personal will follow buzzards in an area where they suspect a leak. (This would be out in the country}
Good idea, cause I have no clue what "rotten eggs" smell like and am not about to buy eggs and let them rot to find out.
This Restaurant Only Prints Their Very Short Menus On Business Cards
I could eat cheeseburgers all weekend at home for the price of one of theirs.
Funny, most thigs are more expensive when you have them made and presented for you and brought to your table and washed the dishes etc.
Load More Replies...That's great if you have normal eyesight, but a complete nightmare for those of us near, far or both sighted people. I have a hard enough time reading the instructions on normal packaging while I'm wearing my glasses let alone some freaking menu at a restaurant.
Well, It Certainly Gets The Point Across, It Certainly Doesn't Fit. (About A Constipation Ad)
How do you know the width of the walking space when the kerb on the far right side isn't showing?
Load More Replies...Cutout In The Packaging Allows Fitting Test
I thought these were earplugs first and for a second I wondered how you're supposed to test out your ear hole size 💀
Rubber fingers is what they’re called and they allow you not to lick your fingers when handling papers. Used to use them all the time when everything was on paper.
Load More Replies...But yet when you take them out of the package and toss them in a drawer they are still all the same color.
Before you buy them so you buy the right sise
Load More Replies...Why not just get 1 of those little containers of tacky fingers. It's used for counting money and going through paperwork.
Not used much anymore but if you are dealing with leafing through paper (think of a bank teller counting currency out) you need these, your fingers get dry and you don't want to be licking them.
This Bus In Japan Has An Emergency Brake That Can Be Activated By Passengers If The Driver Becomes Incapacitated
You have to have a system where people fear the consequences if misused. Japan has that from both directions. Their justice system has a 100% conviction rate. You WILL be convicted. They stop at nothing to achieve this.
This would be too much of a temptation for nefarious intentioned people in the U.S. Japanese culture is far different.
Scam Alert Warning In A Grocery Store
We have these in all the big supermarkets in Australia, and they have audio ad warnings over the store radio because it's such a common scam.
Local grocery and big stores have warnings signs a lot bigger, and yet I have friends who STILL buy gift cards for online people who they've known for "years" in impossible situations that MUST get a card for some random reason.
I've seen this warning in several stores locally (NW, USA) It's sad they have to tell people it is risky to give out the card numbers to strangers over the phone /text
Sad that stores have to tell their customers not to give out private information to strangers via phone/text. Scary that they didn't already know not to do that
Load More Replies...Scammers call you to say you have a tax debt (or similar) and you need to pay with gift vouchers. Surprisingly it catches people, particularly the elderly. The checkout operators will also question you if you are buying a heap of vouchers.
Load More Replies...Floppy Disc
Turns out it's just a 70 minute Rick Roll with a phone number at the end.
Load More Replies...Apple Labels Consumers Do Not Need To Pick Off
Sun brings the colour. An orchard I lived on sprayed sunscreen on apples to prevent sun burn. I’m guessing they stenciled this on with a similar compound.
Little Individual Olive Oil Pouch Shaped As An Olive. Found In Spain!!
True, but restaurants in Spain can't give the clients any refillable container with olive oil; it must be served in individually sealed little bottles or fancy containers like this one. The client opens it, uses the amount they want, and the rest is thrown away. It's such a waste!
Load More Replies...Almost Inchanged Design Since 1886
The bicycle design hasn't changed much.
Load More Replies...Tablets Packages Sideways To Fit More On One Tray
Enough for two weeks (or seven days if BD) plus one if you lose one dose. If that's the normal duration of treatment, why put more ?
Load More Replies...I like the ones that also have perforated lines separating them, so you can just put one dose in your purse etc.
I really dislike this type of packaging, I find it difficult to get the pills out. 😔
I usually push my thumbnail through the backing, in spite of the instruction to push the through from the other side. (I'm such a rebel!)
Load More Replies...This is very common in the UK for prescription meds, but ours come either one week supplies or 2 week supplies.
Is it normal to have the pills at right angles to the foil sheet, instead of flat?
Load More Replies...It's the fact that they're packed sideways on, instead of flat in the sheet. I imagine it would need a bigger box, or fewer sheets in the box, so I don't see the benefit.
Load More Replies...Shipping Box For Bike Rack Indicates The Heavy Point
I make industrial heaters, we have been doing this with packaging for years. Had one this year where the customer didn't follow the advice and picked the packing case from the middle. Next thing I knew I was building a replacement 500kg heater, wish I could of seen it happen.
Why would anyone read the instruction on the package... they've been picking up boxes all their lives.... they don't need no stinking instructions. This box above clearly shows two people are needed to pick it up. 🤣😂 Mark: I hope the customer did not expect a free replacement!!!!
Load More Replies...This Handicap Button Mounted On A Bathroom Stall
And yet the stall itself doesn't look wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, so what does it accomplish?
It’s for the door to the room, not the door to a stall.
Load More Replies...It is perhaps a stupid question, but, what's the button used for? Does it flush the toilet?
This Feta Container Has A Strainer Built In
It is on the bottom ...blurred... to hide it's identity
Load More Replies...Bought one like this once. The excess packaging meant I never bought it again tbh. Not a win for me.
I mean, like, you could reuse the strainer...
Load More Replies...I love feta, eat it all the time, why am I not understanding why it needs a strainer?
It often comes packed in its own brine and occasionally chunks of cheese break off or there are crumbly bits you don't want to waste
Load More Replies...Non Gendered Toilet
This is all we need. Public restrooms should have stalls for everything, and people can choose whether they want a urinal or not. It's not difficult.
It seems to be difficult.if you're a Trump supporter........:)
Load More Replies...Aside from the aesthetic of the exterior wall not being very appealing (in my opinion), there isn't even a functional change here, so how would it impact you? There are still two washrooms here. All they've done is label them by the fixtures available, instead of specifying who they think should use each. Everyone can choose whichever is appropriate to their needs.
Load More Replies...Can You Tell By It's Design And Appearance That It's An iPad Cover And Not Really A Handy Bag Or A Purse 😄🤣
Why was this downvoted twice??? Which poor humans can't even let strangers enjoy things?? Y'all need a hug
Load More Replies...Who is in charge of apostrophes at BP? Or do you just sprinkle them around at random?
It's not BP's fault. BP just steals content/posts/comments straight from Reddit. The original poster on Reddit typed the incorrect apostrophe. https://www.reddit.com/r/GoodDesign/comments/18s58wn/can_you_tell_by_its_design_and_appearance_that/
Load More Replies...The Screwdriver Slots In This TV Stand
Could even be a worst picture for that matter. Indecipherable.
Load More Replies...Are you just showing us that there is a cutout so that you can access the screws? You know the manufacturer had to drive those screws in, right?
How To Advertise 101
We have a lot of different ones like this in Melbourne. One morning I saw a Campbell's soup can, a home insurance one shaped like a house and a mobile phone (Nokia) fly over my house in a few minutes of each other.
If you like hot air balloons, you should visit the international balloon festival in Switzerland! There are all kinds of really cool ones like that, and of course the scenery is incredible in the swiss alps . One year I got to ride in one shaped like a unicorn
Load More Replies...Qr Code On Chocolate
Concept Design | Interior Render
When I went through the Rolfing deep tissue massage that corrected my posture, the therapist instructed me to sit in chairs that have the front lower than one's butt, which changes the bend of the lower and upper spine and prevents slouching.
Load More Replies...This was amazing. So many "Why didn't I think of that" ideas all at once. There are some very ingenious people out there!
Actually this was a great list until the last few, so many brilliant ideas
Great and amusing content. Some brilliant yet simple designs. Goes to show KISS is the go.
This was amazing. So many "Why didn't I think of that" ideas all at once. There are some very ingenious people out there!
Actually this was a great list until the last few, so many brilliant ideas
Great and amusing content. Some brilliant yet simple designs. Goes to show KISS is the go.
